KUCHING: Datuk Willie Mongin may not be making his move to Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) until a decision is finalised by Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) on whether or not to accept his application to join the party, opines Professor James Chin.
Prof Chin, an expert in Asian studies at the University of Tasmania in Australia, believed that until Willie, the Puncak Borneo MP, received an official response from PBB, he would not take any action to re-join PKR or any other party.
“So the decision is entirely up to PBB…in a sense, they’ll probably decide later, closer to election.
“Since PBB is already preparing someone to challenge him, it’s very difficult to accept a defector, as you are well aware.”
“PKR is preparing someone to challenge Willie, so there are many factors to take into account,” he added, but “everything will depend on when the elections take place.”
“My take is that he will not be making any move towards PKR until he hears from PBB.”
Another political observer, Associate Professor at University Malaysia Sabah, Dr Lee Kuok Tiong questioned whether or not Willie actually applied to rejoin PKR or PKR simply assumed he would do so if his application to join PBB was denied.
“GPS is supporting anti-hoping bills, so it’s a difficult decision to make, but if PBB decides to accept him, it must be done before the anti-hopping law, which will be introduced and passed in Parliament soon.”
Prof Lee stated that GPS was more appealing than the current PKR in Sarawak, which fared poorly in the state polls last year. He added that Sarawak PKR lacked true leadership to move it forward.
He said PKR needed someone like Baru Bian to lead, “yet PKR is also supporting anti-hopping laws, thus, will they go against their will to accept Willie?”
